Prefabricated marquee



April 11, 1939. M. L. CLARK 2,154,394

PREFABRICATED MARQUEE Filed Nov. 20, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 M A. CAAAK INVENTOR.

I 1 939. M. L. CLARK 2,154,394

PREFABRI GATED MARQUEE Filed Nov. 20, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F FIE-l1 M A. GZflR/f IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY April 11, 1939. M. L. CLARK 2,154,394

PREFABRICATED MARQUEE Filed Nov. 20, 1936 3 Sheebs-Shee't s M4. CLflR/f' INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 11, 1939 PATENT OFFICE PREFABRIOATED MARQUEE Morton L. om, um, om, alsignor to m Artkrait Sign Common-Lima, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November :0, 1m. Serial No. 111.801

4 Claims. (01. 150-15) The present invention relates to improvements in a structure commonly known as a marquee but sometimes referred to as a canopy. Among the objects of this invention are the provision of a marquee in which the advertising space is more effectively used than in comparable structures heretofore marketed; the provision of a structure of the character indicated which can be assembled at the factory in prefabricated units which can be shipped to the place where the structure is to be installed and can then be installed without the employment of specially skilled workmen; the provision of-a structure of the character indicated which will have a very much improved appearance; the provision of a factory-fabricated structure made of durable materials not subject to rapid deterioration; and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the structure disclosed 20 herein.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a partly installed structure, two of the units being shown as in position;

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of a completely assembled installation;

Fig. 3 represents the structure shown in Fig. 2, inverted;

Fig. 4 represents the framing of this structure, in plan;

Fig. 5 represents a substantially central transverse 'vertical section, approximately along the plane indicated by the line 5-5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 represents a transverse section, taken approximately along the plane indicated by the line 66, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 represents a transverse section of one trough and the parts connected thereto, the same being an enlargement of a part of Fig. 6 with parts added;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view of the four main elements of this structure, intended to show how these elements fit together to produce the completed assembly;

Fig. 9 represents a fragmentary transverse section substantially along the plane indicated by the line 9-9, Fig. 4 and is intended to illustrate the arrangement of the parts in the upper portion of this structure;

Fig. 10 represents a structure in which a name unit is substituted for one of the units shown in Fig; 3;

Fig. 11 represents a different mode of using a name unit in connection with the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The construction of the present invention comprises, essentially, four main elements, designated 60 in the drawings annexed hereto by the numerals wall.

I, 2, i, and 4. These four units are fabricated at the factory and shipped to the place of installation where they may be properly assembled and bolted together with a minimum of labor. Section I is a flat base'section which is placed against the wall of a building and secured thereto in an approved manner. Next, section 2 or section I is raised and put into position in. front of section I and bolted thereto. The other one of these two sections is then put into position and bolted to section i and to the other triangular section which has already been put in place. Section 4 is then installed in front of the vertical angle formed by the meeting of the two triangular sections, and this section is then bolted in place, and the marquee or canopy is assembled, except that the weatherproof cover for the joint between sections 2 and 3 must be placed in position. Because the sections of the canopy are completely fabricated, the electric wiring of the assembled structure is ready to be connected to the electric service as soon as the canopy is installed. The striplight of section 4 is connected to the ornamental post and, when the latter is put in place and bolted to sections 2 and 3, the striplight extends back under the marquee to the building and is also secured to sections 2 and 3. In order to provide access for the workmen to the interior of the structure, a permanent door is provided in the top of section I. As a result of this it is possible to get at the electrical connections any time changes or repairs may be needed. It is not necessary to tear off any part of the roof or sofiit as assess may be had through the door provided for that purpose.

Openings 5 are formed in the roof sections 6 at the inner corners of these sections, and through these openings water drains from the roof into the short box 1 just below the roof. From this box leads a drain pipe 8 which connects with a down spout 9 by which the water is carried to a storm sewer or some other convenient means of disposal. An opening it may be provided in the bottom of either end of section i to permit the down spout 9 to pass therethrough. This down spout will go down at the end where it is most convenient to dispose of the water. 1

' Bolts Ii pass through angle irons constituting a rear part of the unit I and through the wall upon which the structure is mounted, being held in place by plates and nuts on the inside of the Enough of these bolts are used to make the fastening of the structure secure so that there will be no danger of falling. As shown in Fig. 4, the units 2 and 3 are bolted to the unit i and to each other by means of the bolts I 2. At the top the bolts pass through angle irons 15a. Plates it are fastened at'the inner angles of the units 2 and 3, at both the top and bottom corners, and from the bottom plates l3 radiate angle iron frame members lib which are secured at their outer ends to horizontal angle iron frame members l1. These are comparable to members l5, located along the upper edges of the forward faces of units 2 and 3. The members and H are connected by angle iron frame members I6, and the members 15 support the outer ends of the channels l4. Thus, there is formed a very rigid support for the roof members 6. The roof supporting members I41, which might be called rafters, are channels turned up on edge and tapered from their wider outer ends to their narrower inner ends to give a suitable slope to the roof. Diagonal braces l8 give rigidity to the structure which has vertical angles l9 near its inner side, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5.

Porcelain enamel lined troughs or channels 20 are secured to the uprights IS in spaced relation, as shown in Fig. 6, and these have their longitudinal edges turned up and down, respectively, to fit into channels of connecting members, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7. These connecting members 2! are formed from sheet metal or other material, bent, as shown in cross-section in Fig. '7, to form deep, lower channels 22 and shallower, upper channels 23. The edges of these members 2| are secured to the edge portions of the troughs, as indicated at 24-. Strips of translucent glass 25 are inserted from below, inside of the rods 26, and have their upper edges shoved into the upper grooves 22 and then have their lower edges inserted into the lower grooves 23, the glass or other translucent material being thus held very securely in' position. The troughs 20 and connecting members 2| constitute a rigid, light impervious front for the sections 2 and 3, as the only light visible from in front of the sign is that which shines through the translucent strips 25, which prevents the light bulbs 21 from being visible at any time, except when the strips 25 are removed for some purpose. The bulbs 21 are mounted in sockets 28 in the bottoms or rear walls of the troughs 20.

From the drawings and the above description it will be apparent that the troughs 20 and units 2| serve several purposes. In the first place, they constitute the front of the marquee and the front and back of the sign; in the next place, they eliminate the necessity for the use of any framing members within the outside framing elements; then, also, they furnish supporting means for the lamp sockets as well as permanent reflectors giving a maximum of illumination.

Upper rods 29 cooperate with the rods 26 in supporting indicia, such as letters or numbers in front of the translucent strips 25. These rods 26 and 29 are made sufiiciently rigid that the weight of the indicia does not cause them to sag materially, and the letters therefore appear to be in straight lines. The indicia 30 have hooks 3| upon their rear faces which engage closely the rods 26 and 29 whereby to prevent rattling.

A section or unit 32 may be added to the top of each of sections 2 and 3 for the display of a name, such as a theater name, if desired.

In Fig. 10, a name unit 33 replaces, unit 32 and is substituted for the unit 4, the structure being obvious and not needing detailed description. In the structure of Fig. 11, the unit 4 is retained but a curved name unit 34 takes the place of unit 32, being secured to the top framing and to the wall of the supporting building.

An advantage inherent in the prefabrication 'of constructions such as that disclosed herein is that, in the shop, the construction can be made entirely of galvanized materials, whereas structures built up on the job must be made of black iron. The use of galvanized and porcelain enameled material results in a much more durable structure-one not subject to deterioration, even .in long periods of use. Also, since the reflectors are porcelain lined, they can be easily washed, thus doing away with frequent painting or replacements.

While the present drawings disclose a marquee of V-shape, it is to be understood that the claims, unless specifically so limited, are not to be interpreted as being restricted to that form. The fundamental principles of this invention may be embodied in various shapes.

It will of course be understood that the specific description of structure set forth herein may be departed from without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in this-specification and the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A marquee of the character d cribed comprising, in combination, four mai elements, as follows: a flat framework to be secured against a building wall, said framework having closed top, bottom, and end portions; a pair of triangular sections, each having a closed roof, ceiling and front, and each secured by one face to the exposed face of the fiat framework and by another face to the other triangular section; and the fourth section constituting a cover for the exposed vertical face of the two triangular sections bordering the line of junction thereof.

2. A marquee of the character described comprising a fiat framework for attachment to a vertical building wall, a pair of triangular sections secured to said framework and to each other, anda finishing section covering the vertical joint between the triangular sections, the top and. bottom of each triangular section having supporting ribs radiating from the vicinity of on angle to the opposite side.

3. A marquee comprising a generally flat foundation section attachable flatwise to a building wall, separately fabricated sections attachable to the foundation section and to each other, and a finishing section to cover the vertical junction between two of said fabricated sections, the completed structure being approximately triangular in horizontal section when completely assembled in position of use.

4. A marquee for use on buildings, composed of factory fabricated units adapted to be shipped as such to the point of use and then installed by connecting the units to the building and to each other, two of said units being triangular in form and each having a long face and two shorter faces, one of the shorter faces of each of said two units being connectible to a building and the other shorter faces being mutually connectiare assembled and extending diagonally to the wall of the building, said triangular units having triangular top and bottom faces, which, during use of the marquee, are both closed.

. MORTON L. CLARK.

ble, the long faces being exposed when the units 

